Storm Floris causes travel chaos with 90mph winds

Disruption from Storm Floris will continue into today, travellers have been warned, after wind gusts of up to 82 mph brought down trees and power lines across Scotland and Ireland, triggering transport chaos for trains, flights and ferries.

- SIMON CALDER

More than 22,500 homes were without power, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said, with 10,000 more affected in Ireland - mostly in Co Donegal and Co Roscommon.

Festivals in Edinburgh were also disrupted, with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo among the events cancelled, while the delivery of exam results to some island communities was delayed according to the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

The Met Office confirmed wind gusts of up to 79mph as far apart as Kinloss, east of Inverness, and the island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides, with 82mph recorded at Wick in Caithness.

Transport was paralysed across much of northern Britain. Network Rail closed all rail lines north of the Central Belt from midday, while a number of roads have been blocked.